- Babasaheb Bhim Rao Ambedkar, a renowned social reformer and a Dalit leader, was born on April 14, 1891.
- He was an economist, jurist, politician and social reformer all in one. He was born into poverty and campaigned against the Indian caste system.
- He was also known as a Dalit icon for leading the Dalit Buddhism movement in India, a campaign against social discrimination towards the Dalits, who were also known as untouchables then. He spoke unequivocally against the injustice, discrimination and inequality faced by the dalit community members.
- Ambedkar was the first untouchable of India to pursue a college degree. He earned a law degree and doctorates for his studies in law, economics and political science, gaining a reputation as a scholar and campaigning for political rights and social freedom for the lowest in the caste system, untouchables.
- In 1927, Dr. Ambedkar organised and led a march at Mahad, Maharashtra that eventually helped establish equal rights for untouchable people who were not allowed to touch or taste the water of Chawdar Lake.
- Ambedkar is known as the chief architect behind the Constitution of India. He went on to become the first Law and Justice Minister of Independent India.
- Ambedkar died on December 6, 1956 and was posthumously honoured with the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honour in 1990.
- On Ambedkar Jayanti it is a custom that the President, Prime Minister and leaders of other parties pay homage to his statue at the Parliament, New Delhi.
- Ambedkar struggled for equality throughout his life, hence his birthday is celebrated as ‘Equality Day’ in India, and the demand to declare this day as “International Equality Day” goes to the United Nations.
- The central government has declared a public holiday on April 14, 2021 to commemorate Dr. BR Ambedkar’s 130th birth anniversary.
- The Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions issued a notification on April 1, 2021 declaring that April 14 will be a public holiday for all central government offices including industrial establishmentsthroughout India.
- The public holiday has been declared by invoking powers under Section 25 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881.The centre had made a similar announcement in 2020 when it had declared April 14th as a national holiday.
